Thoroughly investigating an accident crucial after crashes

Posted on behalf of the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod and Baril, PLLC on April 16th, 2015

The scene of an accident can be a very chaotic environment. There are often injured motorists, broken car parts, police officers, ambulances and curious bystanders on the scene. It can all be a lot to take in, particularly for the people involved in the crash, and it can be difficult for people to figure out exactly what happened and what went wrong.

This is why it can so crucial to have accident investigators and re-constructionists take a closer look at the crash. By taking a huge amount of data into consideration, they can determine what conditions or actions contributed to an accident, which can be essential for victims who are considering their options for compensation.

Recently, for example, investigators released their findings regarding a tragic accident in December. It was already known that a woman driving her car at 5:20 p.m. struck a pedestrian and dragged her more than 130 feet before stopping. The victim suffered a severe brain injury.

However, there were still several questions that were unanswered. Why didn’t the driver stop? What did she do in the seconds after the crash? Was she being negligent?

After investigating the scene and conditions at the time of the accident, analysts determined that poor visibility at the time and the victim’s clothing contributed to the accident. It was also established that the driver, who claims she didn’t know she hit someone, applied her brakes immediately after the impact and came to a stop, although she did not slam on her brakes. They were also able to confirm that the driver was not using her phone at the time.

It would have been all but impossible to confirm these things immediately after the accident, but they are critical details that allow people affected by the crash to understand what happened. The investigation results also cleared the driver of any potential criminal charges.

After a crash, it can be difficult to know what to do next and how to deal with damages from an accident. In order to resolve these issues, you can speak with an attorney who has the resources to thoroughly investigate the accident and can help you understand your legal options.